d on arriving at the Red Sea. So he asked the
conductor if he had seen anything of his slave. The man being somewhat
of an abolitionist, and believing that my master was really a
slaveholder, thought he would tease him a little respecting me. So he
said, "No, sir; I haven't seen anything of him for some time: I have no
doubt he has run away, and is in Philadelphia, free, long before now."
My master knew that there was nothing in this; so he asked the
conductor if he would please to see if he could find me. The man
indignantly replied, "I am no slave-hunter; and as far as I am
concerned everybody must look after their own niggers." He went off
and left the confused invalid to fancy whatever he felt inclined. My
master at first thought I must have been kidnapped into slavery by some
one, or left, or perhaps killed on the train. He also thought of
stopping to see if he could hear anything of me, but he soon remembered
that he had no money. That night all the money we had was consigned to
my own pocket, because we thought, in case there were any pickpockets
about, a slave's pocket would be the last one they would look for.
However, hoping to meet me some day in a land of liberty, and as he had
the tickets, he thought it best upon the whole to enter the boat and
come off to Philadelphia, and endeavour to make his way alone in this
cold and hollow world as best he could. The time was now up, so he
went on board and came across with feelings that can be better imagined
than described.

After the train had got fairly on the way to Philadelphia, the guard
came into my car and gave me a violent shake, and bawled out at the
same time, "Boy, wake up!" I started, almost frightened out of my
wits. He said, "Your master is scared half to death about you." That
frightened me still more--I thought they had found him out; so I
anxiously inquired what was the matter. The guard said, "He thinks you
have run away from him." This made me feel quite at ease. I said,
"No, sir; I am satisfied my good master doesn't think that." So off I
started to see him. He had been fearfully nervous, but on seeing me he
at once felt much better. He merely wished to know what had become of
me.

On returning to my seat, I found the conductor and two or three other
persons amusing themselves very much respecting my running away. So
the guard said, "Boy, what did your master want?"* I replied, "He
merely wished to know what had become of me.